Rivers and Roads are both great ideas. 

Carol, whatever you choose, I'd be interested in contributing material
for your researchers. The humanities councils did a project on the Ohio
River called "Always a River" about [omigod] 14 years ago, and we still
have files. I remember the first thing NEH asked us was: "What is so
important about the Ohio River, anyway?" which we took as a direct
insult to our region, but it was actually a good inquiry to kick off our
research.

Take care,
Nancy

-------
Nancy N. Conner
Director of Metadata & Collaborations
IHC smartDESKTOP(r)
Indiana Humanities Council
1500 N. Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-2419
317.638.1500 or 800.675.8897 x 128
[log in to unmask] | www.indianahumanities.org
 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of
> Marcia W Britton
> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 9:33 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: New MoMS exhibitions
> 
> And don't forget the serious issues associated with rivers as per the
> seven-state NEH Colorado River exhibition/program project led by Dan
> Schilling at the AHC.  Nice idea, Martha!
> Marcia
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Martha D. Beck [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 8:17 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: New MoMS exhibitions
> 
> Hello, all--
> 
> I like the idea of Rivers as an exhibit theme. Rivers cross-cross the
> country, and they tell stories related to transportation history,
> commerce, and geology/earth science/ecology. There is also a rich
store
> of literature, music, and folklore related to rivers. Metaphorically
and
> practically, they connect us to one another. They suggest escape,
> adventure, connection, exploration, inspiration, letting go. Taking
care
> of rivers is one important thread of contemporary environmental
> activity. A theme like "Rivers and Streams" or "Rivers and Roads"
could
> make the subject bigger, either going in the "waters" direction or the
> "byways" direction.
> 
> American Roads isn't a bad idea either. (American Routes? Too close to
> Roots?)
> 
> Martha
> 
> 
> 
> Martha Davis Beck
> Program Officer, Grants and Community Programs
> MN Humanities Commission
> 987 East Ivy Avenue
> St. Paul, MN 55106-2046
> (651) 772-4245
> [log in to unmask]
> www.minnesotahumanities.org
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of David Morgan
> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 8:48 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: New MoMS exhibitions
> 
> I am reminded that our Between Fences scholar, Dr. Luther Brown, had
> suggested cemeteries as and exhibit theme. I think he may be on to
> something.
> 
> David
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Carol Harsh
> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 7:08 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: New MoMS exhibitions
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> As you know MoMS is launching the tour of Between Fences in September
> 2005
> and New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music in March 2007.
The
> MoMS
> staff is starting to think beyond these two exhibitions to yet another
> new
> MoMS exhibition that will begin traveling in 2009.
> 
> We would love to hear from you regarding exhibitions that you have
seen,
> or
> possibly that your council helped to develop, that you feel could be
> adapted
> to make a great MoMS exhibition.
> 
> A good MoMS exhibition is one that has a national focus but that
> inspires
> locally developed programs that are focused on local history and
> culture.
> The exhibition needs to be thematic in approach and draw upon a
variety
> of
> humanities disciplines. It needs to be limited security so that we can
> travel it to small museums and libraries, and therefore can't involve
> rare
> collections or artifacts. The topic needs to have a broad appeal, and
> preferably inspire a passionate reaction at the local level as we have
> seen
> with barns and food.
> 
> Please send your comments and suggestions to me by June 1. Robbie and
I
> will follow up with curators and explore the viability of the topics.
> In
> addition to any ideas we get from you, we are currently developing a
> handful
> of other exhibition proposals on a variety of topics.
> 
> Our plan is to distribute a slate of exhibition proposals to you on
> August
> 1, 2005, and ask you to rank and rate them as to which ones might make
a
> good MoMS exhibition tour in your state.  Surveys will need to be
> returned
> to us by mid September so that we can make the final determination and
> announce the decision at the Federation's National Humanities
> Conference.
> 
> Please remember that a lot of factors come into play in determining
> which
> exhibition ideas are appropriate for MoMS.  We value your input and
> appreciate your understanding that the MoMS team is working hard to
make
> sure that only the best and most viable exhibition topics are
presented
> to
> you for your consideration.
> 
> I am looking forward to your good ideas!
> 
> Carol
> 
> Carol Harsh
> Co-Director
> Museum on Main Street
> Smithsonian Institution, SITES
> (202)357-1760
> (202)465-5267 (cell)
> [log in to unmask]